College Recruiting
College Recruiting is a Difficult Process
Many athletes and families spend countless hours searching online for advice on how to get recruited—if they can even find the time. Between school, practices, work, and other activities, it’s not easy to gather all the information and put it together.
That’s where Ahead In The Count Recruiting, LLC comes in. We take the work off your plate and provide the guidance and resources you need to make informed decisions—so you can focus on playing the game and preparing for the next level.
RECRUITING: What Does It Mean?
In college athletics, recruiting is the process coaches use to fill roster spots with prospective student-athletes. Every coach must be successful in recruiting, but their needs can vary. Some prioritize athletes with strong grades and test scores, while others focus on filling specific positional needs. Ultimately, recruiting is about identifying athletes who are the right fit for a program—both on and off the field—before extending an opportunity to compete at the college level.
What is The College Recruiting Process?
The recruiting process can be complicated—but that’s where we come in.
At Ahead In The Count Recruiting, we offer a comprehensive Player Evaluation that includes measurables, metrics, and a skills video, along with guidance on reaching out to schools that may be the right fit for you. Our goal is to partner with families to find the best academic and athletic match for each student-athlete.
College coaches often begin recruiting by casting a wide net, contacting many athletes who might fit their program. Through evaluations, highlight videos, and conversations with recruits, they gradually narrow down their list until roster spots are filled. Our job is to make sure you stand out in that process.
What Are College Coaches Looking For?
Coaches use many different criteria when evaluating potential recruits. Factors such as level of competition, open roster spots, academic requirements, and more all play a role. Some of the key things they look for include:
Athletic Ability
This is one of the most important factors. A coach’s job often depends on winning, so
they want to recruit the best athletes they can sign.
Academics
When a coach has multiple recruits to choose from, strong grades and test scores can
be the deciding factor. Athletes who perform well academically are seen as lower risk
for future eligibility issues.
Character
Character is more important than many athletes and families realize. Coaches pay close attention to how players interact with teammates, opponents, coaches, and even parents. Respect, leadership, and attitude can set a recruit apart.
Location
Geography can also influence recruiting. Larger programs with bigger budgets may recruit nationally or even internationally, while smaller schools often focus on athletes within their region or where they have existing relationships with high school and travel coaches.
Steps of the College Recruiting Process
College coaches generally follow specific steps through their recruiting process. College coaches usually do the following:
(Click the link)
How the Recruiting Cycle Works
The recruiting cycle can be thought of as a funnel—or a pool that gets smaller with each step.
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Large Pool of Athletes
The process begins with a wide pool of potential recruits. Coaches conduct initial evaluations, often looking at basic requirements such as size, stats, position, and academic eligibility. -
Initial Contact
Coaches reach out to athletes who appear to be potential fits, sending correspondence to gauge interest and begin building relationships. -
Narrowing the Pool
As evaluations continue, coaches narrow down the pool by reviewing game film, highlight videos, and academic records, while also monitoring character and communication. -
Smaller Group of Recruits
The pool becomes much smaller as coaches focus on athletes who not only meet their team’s needs but also show mutual interest. -
Offers and Visits
Near the end of the process, coaches extend invitations for official visits and, ultimately, make scholarship or roster spot offers.
Initial list of prospective student-athletes that a coach receives.
Coaches take the list and begin the initial steps in the evaluation process, narrowing down the list.
Correspondence sent out to student-athletes that appear to be a good fit for the program and the school.
Evaluations continue with this smaller group
Coaches are having recruits on official visits and look to offer.
Coaches Put Together a List of Prospective Athletes Who Meet Basic Requirements
College coaches discover potential recruits through a variety of channels. These may include athletes they’ve seen in action at camps, games, or tournaments, as well as those who are referred by trusted sources. Some recruits also stand out by proactively reaching out to schools on their target list.
During the initial evaluation phase, coaches typically look for athletes who meet key criteria such as:
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Height, weight, and position
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Graduation year
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Academic performance
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Geographic location
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Overall athletic ability and potential
To gather this information, coaches rely on several sources, including:
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Recruiting media sites with athlete profiles and highlights
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Third-party recruiting services that evaluate and promote athletes
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Referrals from high school or club coaches
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Direct outreach from athletes via emails or messages
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Camps and showcases, where coaches can evaluate many athletes in person
Athletes may progress through this initial evaluation at different rates depending on the level of the program. Smaller programs may move athletes to the next stage quickly, while larger programs tend to evaluate a larger pool of prospects more selectively.
Maximizing Your Exposure
One of the best ways to get noticed is by attending camps and showcases hosted by schools you're interested in. These events give coaches a chance to see you compete live and evaluate your skills firsthand.
Additionally, make every effort to get your name in front of college coaches through:
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Personalized emails
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Social media outreach
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Highlight videos and up-to-date recruiting profiles
The more proactive and visible you are, the better your chances of standing out in a crowded recruiting field.
Sending out Letters, Questionnaires and Camp Invites
College coaches often begin by sending messages to a large group of athletes. The goal is to gauge overall interest and identify which athletes might be a fit for their program. This early communication is part of the initial evaluation phase.
If an athlete passes this first round of evaluation, they may receive one or more of the following:
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A request to complete a recruiting questionnaire
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An invitation to attend a camp
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A general interest letter or email from the coaching staff
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Understanding Recruiting Questionnaires
Recruiting questionnaires are typically available on college athletic websites and are also sent directly to athletes. These forms collect basic but essential information—such as position, height, weight, academic details, graduation year, and more—that helps coaches decide whether to take a closer look.
Any athlete who emails or calls a coach to express interest may also be added to an evaluation list and could receive a questionnaire as a result.
After sending out these communications, coaches track who responds and how quickly. This helps them gauge an athlete’s level of interest and narrow down their list of potential recruits.
Coaches Conduct In-Depth Athletic, Academic and Character Evaluations of Recruits
Once athletes move beyond the initial evaluation, college coaches begin a much more in-depth process to determine which recruits are the best fit for their program. At this stage, building a ranked list of top prospects is key—and coaches need to truly get to know you to make that decision.
Here’s what typically happens during this phase:
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Direct Contact with Athletes
Coaches will begin reaching out more regularly—via phone, email, or direct messages—to build a relationship and assess your interest level. -
Conversations with High School & Club Coaches
Coaches often call your high school or club coach to ask about your character, work ethic, coachability, and academic habits. -
Scouting at Tournaments and Showcases
Coaches may travel to large recruiting events to see multiple athletes in action. These live evaluations help confirm what they've seen on film. -
Personalized Camp Invitations
You may receive a direct invite to a college’s camp, which is a strong sign of interest. These events allow coaches to evaluate you in their environment and provide feedback. -
Official and Unofficial Visits
Athletes might be invited for visits, which give both parties a chance to learn more about each other and see if the school is a good fit.
Background Checks: What Coaches Want to Know
Before offering a scholarship, college coaches will often conduct a thorough background check. They’ll contact people in your circle to understand who you are off the field, including:
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High school and club coaches
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Guidance counselors and teachers
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Friends, teammates, and sometimes even local community members
Their goal is to confirm that you’re not only a good athlete, but also a dependable, respectful, and academically committed individual.
How to Stand Out in This Phase
This is your opportunity to take initiative and show coaches why you belong on their list of top recruits. Here's how to do it:
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Send updated stats and highlight videos regularly
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Let coaches know when you'll be attending tournaments, camps, or showcases
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Ask your high school or club coach to reach out to programs you're targeting
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Inform coaches of unofficial visits to their campus to express serious interest
Final Tip
At this stage, communication matters more than ever. The athletes who respond promptly, show consistent interest, and act professionally often move on to receive offers.
Coaches Extend Scholarship Offers
Once the coaching staff has finalized their recruiting list, their next step is to secure commitments from top prospects. Coaches may still invite athletes for on-campus visits, so be prepared to respond quickly if an offer is made.
For those remaining on the list who don’t receive immediate offers, there’s still a path forward. These athletes can continue through the school’s regular application process. If admitted, they may be invited to join the team as walk-ons, depending on team needs and performance potential.
College coaches can make offers at any time—including verbal offers, which are non-binding, informal agreements between the athlete and the coach. However, it’s important to understand that either party can back out of a verbal offer at any time.
Offers only become official and binding when the athlete signs their National Letter of Intent (NLI).
Coaches Sign Athletes and Ensure Academic Eligibility
🏅 Final Step: Signing and Academic Eligibility
The final step in the recruiting process is ensuring each recruit officially signs with the program and meets all academic eligibility requirements. Here’s how the typical timeline unfolds:
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The athlete makes a verbal commitment to the school.
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The coach extends an official offer.
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The athlete signs the official offer (e.g., National Letter of Intent).
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The athlete maintains eligibility by completing the required core courses and earning the necessary GPA.
Even after signing, academic eligibility remains critical. Some athletes have signed with a college program only to become ineligible by the end of their senior year. In such cases, the coach may need to revisit their recruiting board and offer the spot to the next athlete who is still available, interested, and academically qualified.
Athletes who fall short of eligibility may need to compete at a junior college for a year or two to regain eligibility before transferring to a four-year program.
When Does The Recruiting Process Begin?
Student-athletes can begin the early stages of recruiting by taking initiative—sending emails, highlight videos, transcripts, and other materials to college coaches. However, it’s important to note that college coaches may not be able to respond until NCAA recruiting rules allow them to.
That said, it's never too early to prepare. The more proactive and organized athletes are early on, the better positioned they’ll be when official communication opens. Activities like researching schools, keeping grades up, and refining highlight videos can make a big difference when it’s time to make contact.
📆 College Recruiting Timeline by Year
Freshman Year
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Research colleges and athletic programs across all division levels (NCAA D1, D2, D3, NAIA, JUCO).
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Understand the differences between divisions and what each offers.
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Learn NCAA recruiting rules.
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Start tracking sport-specific measurables (e.g., 40-yard dash, vertical jump, swim times, etc.).
Sophomore Year
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Begin building your athletic résumé and academic profile.
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Create or begin gathering footage for your highlight video.
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Contact coaches at programs that can already recruit (D3, NAIA, and JUCO).
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Complete recruiting questionnaires for schools of interest.
Junior Year
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This is often the most active year for recruiting.
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Reach out to college coaches directly—send emails, make calls, and share updated highlight videos.
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Compile and refine your list of 20–30 target schools.
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Attend showcases, tournaments, and camps where coaches can evaluate you in person.
Senior Year
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Finalize your college list and schedule unofficial and official visits.
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If you haven’t received offers yet, stay persistent—continue to reach out to coaches and remain open to programs across different levels.
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Be ready to make a verbal commitment or sign your National Letter of Intent (NLI), if offered.
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Maintain academic eligibility by keeping up with GPA and core course requirements.
FRESHMAN
SOPHOMORE
JUNIOR
SENIOR
🎯 College Recruiting Timeline for Freshmen
It’s never too early to get a head start on the college recruiting process. However, that doesn’t mean freshmen need to immediately begin contacting coaches or sending highlight videos.
Instead, freshmen should focus on laying the groundwork for future recruiting success by taking the following steps:
✅ What Freshmen Should Do:
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Research college programs and division levels
Understand the differences between NCAA Division I, II, III, NAIA, and junior college options to determine what best fits your academic and athletic goals. -
Gather early clips for your recruiting video
Start collecting game footage now so you’ll have plenty to choose from when it’s time to create a polished highlight video. -
Create a recruiting profile
Build an online profile that showcases your academic achievements, athletic stats, and personal information. This will make it easier for coaches to find and evaluate you once recruiting contact becomes permissible.
📆 College Recruiting Timeline for Sophomores
By sophomore year, student-athletes should begin actively preparing for the recruiting process. While direct communication with many coaches may still be limited due to NCAA rules, this is a critical time to build your presence and lay the foundation for future contact.
✅ What Sophomores Should Focus On:
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Dedicate time weekly to recruiting
Spend a few hours each week building and refining your recruiting profile, organizing your materials, and researching schools. -
Build your target list of schools
Identify 30–40 colleges across various division levels (NCAA D1, D2, D3, NAIA, JUCO) that align with your academic, athletic, and personal preferences. -
Create and finalize your highlight video
Edit together your best clips and begin sharing your highlight video with coaches—especially at schools that are permitted to recruit at this stage (e.g., NAIA, JUCO, NCAA D3). -
Complete online questionnaires
Many college programs have prospective athlete questionnaires on their websites. Filling these out puts you on the radar and in the system. -
Start writing and sending personalized emails to coaches
Introduce yourself, share your athletic and academic achievements, and include links to your video and recruiting profile. Personalization shows genuine interest and effort.
📆 College Recruiting Timeline for Juniors
Junior year is the crucial recruiting year for most student-athletes. It marks the point when college coaches are officially allowed to communicate directly with recruits under NCAA rules—making it the busiest and most important time in the recruiting process.
✅ What Happens During Junior Year:
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Direct communication begins
NCAA rules allow coaches at most levels to reach out directly—via email, phone, texts, or in person—starting June 15 or September 1, depending on the sport and division. -
Coaches assess where you stand
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If there are roster spots open for your graduating class
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Whether they’re actively recruiting your position
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If you need to improve athletically or academically to stay on their radar
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Coaches may let you know:
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This is your chance to make an impression
Take advantage of the increased access to coaches by:-
Attending camps, showcases, and college visits
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Following up regularly with updates on your performance and academics
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Responding professionally and promptly to any coach outreach
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⚠️ Not Hearing from Coaches Yet? Don’t Panic.
It’s still possible to get recruited—even if things are quiet now. Many athletes earn opportunities later by:
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Expanding their target school list
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Continuing to develop athletically and academically
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Staying proactive with outreach and exposure efforts
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💡 Tip: Now is the time to be aggressive and strategic. The more organized and proactive you are, the better your chances of finding the right fit.
📆 College Recruiting Timeline for Seniors
Senior year is the final stretch of the recruiting process—and the most important time to make decisions and solidify your future.
✅ What to Expect During Senior Year:
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Campus Visits Are Key
Coaches will often invite recruits for:-
Official visits (paid for by the school)
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Unofficial visits (paid for by the family)
These visits help coaches evaluate your fit and give you a real feel for the school.
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Coaches Want to Learn More About You
Expect coaches to:-
Ask questions to understand your personality, goals, and level of interest
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Evaluate how you interact with their team and staff during visits
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Gauge your commitment level before extending or finalizing an offer
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🏫 Use Campus Visits to Make Informed Decisions:
During a visit, take advantage of the opportunity to:
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Attend a class and meet professors or admissions officers
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Watch a practice or game
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Spend time with the team
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Get a sense of the campus culture and daily life
By this stage, you should be narrowing down your list of schools and preparing to make a verbal commitment or sign your National Letter of Intent (NLI).
⚠️ What If You’re Starting Late?
If you’re just starting the recruiting process or haven’t been hearing from coaches:
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Don’t give up—there’s still time to find opportunities
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Be proactive in reaching out to coaches across all division levels
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Expand your target list and stay open-minded about options
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Attend camps or showcases that offer late exposure opportunities
💡 Reminder: College rosters can fill quickly, especially early in the year—so act fast, stay organized, and don’t hesitate to follow up regularly with coaches.
When Should You Start the Recruiting Process?
The most important thing to understand about recruiting is that the earlier you start, the better prepared you’ll be. Getting an early jump allows you to build a target school list, research programs, attend camps, and create or update your recruiting video before you begin direct contact with college coaches.
In the world of college recruiting, being ahead in the process gives you a greater chance to catch a coach’s attention while they still have roster spots available. Simply put — it’s never too early to start.
Recruiting Process: Reasons to Start vs. Wait
No two recruiting journeys look the same. Some athletes receive verbal offers as early as 7th or 8th grade, while others wait until their senior year to find last-minute opportunities.
However, starting earlier generally gives athletes more time to build relationships with coaches, improve their skills, and gain exposure. Waiting can work, but it often means fewer roster spots are available and more competition for them.
Bottom line: Starting early gives you more options and flexibility. Waiting limits your choices, though it can still work for late bloomers.
Freshman Year:
Why Wait?
Freshman Year:
Why Start the Process?
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Top programs recruit early.
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You have everything ready.
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You may be a top-tier athlete.
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You could grow and develop.
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Not ready to start the process.
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You might be a late bloomer.
Sophomore Year:
Why Wait?
SophomoreYear:
Why Start the Process?
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Still roster openings out there.
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Look at D2 schools as well.
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Start building relationships.
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Look at unofficial visits.
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You could improve more.
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Need to boost your GPA.
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If you have had an injury.
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More time to research schools.
Junior Year:
Why Wait?
JuniorYear:
Why Start the Process?
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Don't want to lose out on spots.
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Coaches can contact you.
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Keep building relationships.
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Fine-tune your top schools.
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ACT or SAT scores are low
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Need to boost your GPA.
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Don't meet admissions for your target school.
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More time to research schools.
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Call coaches directly.
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Last opportunity.
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Social media to see schools.
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Look for school needs.
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Not sure you want to play.
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Want a different college life.
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Accepted but can't compete.
SeniorYear:
Why Start the Process?
SeniorYear:
Why Wait?
NCAA Recruiting Rules and Recruiting Calendar
The NCAA sets recruiting rules and a recruiting calendar to control when and how college coaches can communicate with prospective student-athletes. Understanding these periods can help you time your outreach.
Evaluation Period
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Coaches can watch athletes compete in person or visit their school.
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No in-person contact with the athlete or their parents is allowed.
Contact Period
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Full communication is allowed between college coaches and athletes.
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This includes emails, texts, phone calls, direct messages, and in-person contact.
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Most active recruiting happens during this period.
Dead Period
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No in-person contact between coaches and athletes or their parents.
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Communication can still happen via emails, texts, phone calls, and direct messages.
Quiet Period
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In-person contact is allowed only on the college’s campus.
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Communication via emails, texts, phone calls, and direct messages is still allowed.
When Do Coaches Stop Recruiting
When Does Recruiting Really End?
Do College Coaches Ever Stop Recruiting?
It seems simple — college coaches stop recruiting when their roster is full.
But the reality is more nuanced: each level of college athletics fills their rosters at different times. Understanding these timelines can help you and your athlete make smart decisions about where to focus as high school progresses.
NCAA Division I Prospects
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Recruiting starts early and moves fast. The most elite athletes often draw interest by the start of high school.
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Many receive offers during their sophomore or early junior year.
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By the end of junior year, most Division I programs have verbal commitments from their top recruits.
Recruiting doesn’t officially end with a verbal commitment. The final step is signing a National Letter of Intent (NLI), a binding agreement that locks in an athlete’s commitment. This happens during their senior year, usually starting in February or April (depending on the sport).
Even though DI coaches may continue to recruit as a backup in case a player decommits, if your athlete hasn’t heard from DI coaches by their senior year, it’s smart to shift focus to other divisions.
Head Count Scholarships
Some DI sports — such as NCAA Division I FBS football, men’s and women’s basketball, tennis, gymnastics, and volleyball — are “head count” sports. Coaches in these sports have a fixed number of full scholarships and cannot split them among athletes, which can accelerate their recruiting timelines.
NCAA Division II Prospects
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Division II recruiting usually starts later than DI.
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Most coaches get serious about athletes during their junior year, after they’ve seen how the DI recruiting picture shakes out.
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Per NCAA rules, DII coaches cannot contact players until June 15 after their sophomore year.
Elite DII athletes may get offers the summer before senior year, but many coaches want to see senior season film, which extends the process into senior year.
Like DI, Division II recruits sign a National Letter of Intent to officially end the process.
NCAA Division III and NAIA Prospects
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Division III and NAIA coaches have more flexibility and less restrictive rules, so their recruiting often runs much later than DI or DII.
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Most recruiting happens during an athlete’s senior year and can continue into the spring (even March or later).
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These coaches often rely on senior highlight film to make their final decisions.
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NJCAA / Junior College Prospects
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Junior college is a great path for athletes who need academic eligibility, skill development, or a second chance.
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Because many athletes use this as a backup plan, junior colleges recruit the latest of all levels.
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It’s not unusual for athletes to commit even after graduating high school.
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Summary: How to Pivot as Time Goes On
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No DI interest by end of junior year? Focus on Division II.
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No DII interest by senior year? Shift to Division III or NAIA programs.
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Still want to play after graduation? Keep junior college as an option.
While timelines vary by sport and individual, one thing is clear: all programs stop recruiting when their roster is full — and that usually happens sometime during senior year.